Claiee



(No Model.)

' J. M. ST. CLAIRE.

CORSET.

No. 322,497 Patented July-21,1885."

N. PETERSv Photn-Lilhographa r, Wallflnglon. D. C.

-Unnf rien STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPHINE M. sT. CLAIRE, on cnnAn RA IDS, IOWA.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No, 322,497, dated July 21, 1885.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPHINE M. ST. CLAIRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a corset which shall be more durable, comfortable, and perfectly conformable to the figure.

than those in general use.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the several parts to this end, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of a corset embodying my invention Fig. 2, a back view of the same; Figs. '3, 4, and 5, sectionalviews of the front, showing the manner of attaching the busks to the corset; and Fig. 6 a cross-section of a corded portion of the corset and a bone or steel attached thereunder.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The corset consists, essentially, of seven sections on each side, or a two-part corset composed of fourteen principal parts, A B O D G H I, respectively. These are cut in forms that need not now be particularly described. Their general shape will be seen in Figs. -1 and 2, where the seams are indicated by dotted lines.

The chief objects to be attained are simplicity, durability, comfort, neatness, and a To secure these ends I have introduced the following improvements.

It will be noticed that the corset is out high at the front and back. In the ordinary corset the top in front extends to about midway of the breast, and is practically straight across. The result of this is that with a person very fully developed there is a protrusion of the bust above this line, and in the case of aspare person a sudden and unsightly falling away, noticeable notwithstanding the most careful arrangement of the outer garments' So, also, at theback, the top of the corset, which usually reaches slightly above the bottom of the shoulder-blades, is all too plainly indicated. To avoid this unpleasant advertisement of the corset, and secure a more perfect fit in the article itself, as well as the outer garments, the front is extended to the upper part of the bust, the section A being continued up to the shoulder, forming a yoke, as shown. The busks are preferably made to terminate at a point near the middle of the bust, above which the corset is only stiffened by cording. This admits of the corset conforming to the body of the wearer, and, to a reasonable extent, of such an artificial conformation as vanity or necessity may suggest, without a too obvious disclosure of the means employed.

In practice I cut the corset to order, insuring a perfect fit; but made from a model for custom-trade, the corset will be found to satisfy all the requirements in this respect. the back the sections B B, forming the main portions, are extended nearly or quiteto-the. top of the shoulder-blades, the bones terminating a short distance below that point, and upon the shoulder as in front. Thus no unsight] y ridgeis left exposed at the most prominent point of these shoulder-blades. as is the case with many corsets. The shoulder-pieces are united by elastic straps a. a, which, being at the top of the shoulder, admit of the arm being raised or moved otherwise without disturbing the position of the corset elsewhere, and especially without drawing and tearing it under the arm, as in the case of many corsets provided with a shoulder-strap.

I am aware that the use of an elastic strap is not, broadly, new; but I am not aware that it has ever before been combined with a yoke, as herein shown. lit will be noticed that-the sections A A B B are extended upward, not I simply to form shoulderstraps, but to complete the vest-like form of the corset, which ness.

A further improvement in form and arrangement is in the bust shown in Fig. 1.

IOO

rily constructed arises from the fact that the steels are soon rusted and ruined by the per- 9 I regard as essential to its comfort and neatspiration from the body, there being usually but one thickness of cloth above them. To avoid this objection, I inclose the steels within double thicknesses of cloth in every case.

The tendency of corsets to break down over the-hips at the sides is well known. I remedy this defect by combining the stiffening action of springs and cording in the manner shown in- Fig. 6. The hip-sections G H are corded in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, an extra quality of cord being used. Di rectly under these corded strips is attached a separate pocket, 2', within which is inclosed the spring a, incased in a sheath of cloth, 0. By this means sufficient stiffness may be secured with a comparatively flexible spring, and the danger from breaking and the annoyance caused by the failure of the corset at these points are entirely avoided.

In the ordinary corset difficulty is had in removing the busks preparatory to washing the garment. On account of the time re quired and the damage caused in such re moval it is quite customary to wear the corset until soiled and then throw it away. This corset is so constructed that the busks may be removed without injury to the garment and replaced with slight labor. The frontpieces, O F, are folded at the edge, and the double cloth is then folded over the busks I) b and sewed down. In the case of the sect-1on0 the bush is placed far enough back from the edge or fold as to be entirely concealed thereby when right side out. A line of stitching runs close to the outer edge of the husk, connecting the several parts of cloth there, and the folded flap is then secured at the other edge of the busk b'y whipstitching, as shown. The busk is removed by cutting this line of stitches. In the section F, I prefer to fold the double cloth close around the busk b by fastening, as before. Back of this line of stitches is sewed on a separate fly, E, in which may be placed an extra steel, if desired. The plane steels in the back edges of the corsets are attached in the same manner as the busk 7).

Having thus described my inventi0n,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a corset, the section F, composed of double material folded at the outer edge, with I such folded edge turned back and whipstitched to the bodyof the section to form a pocket for the busk b, substantially as described.

2. In a corset, the section 0, composed of double material folded at the outer edge, the double material being again turned back from the outer side and permanently stitched to the bodyof the section about midway of the lap, the part outside thercofforming aiiap or fly, and the inner fold ed edge being whipstitched to the body of the section to form a pocket for the busk 11, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in IVitnesses:

A. M. BATCHELDER, Geo. H. FUNK. 

